Diverse and Comforting: TV Series featuring Characters of Color for Your Watchlist

I don't know about you, but I love to curl up to a good movie or TV show. I especially enjoy seeing content with POC in the cast. Even if it's not another South Asian, I still feel joy in the representation. Here is some content that I've loved.

The Residence (Netflix)

Mystery Comedy Workplace

Uzo Aduba enters the scene as a quirky bird loving detective set to find a suspect for the murder of the White House Chief Usher. Cast is full of faces you'll likely recognize including Randall Park, Kylie Minogue, and Taran Killam.

Abbott Elementary (Hulu)

Situational Comedy Teachers Workplace Romance Talking Head

I honestly think this might be my favorite situational comedy . . . EVER?!? The writing is amazing, the stories are relatable. I've been following Quinta since I was in high school watching Buzzfeed so I'm also just so incredibly proud of her career growth. It's a wonderful show to watch alone or with the family.

StartUp (Netflix)

K-Drama Entrepreneurship Competitive Romance Drama  Comedy Sisterhood Family

This show is actually a K-Drama, a genre I've only recently gotten into but so far have been loving. I dare someone to watch the first episode of this show and not get attached or even emotional. Although the first episode is VERY dramatic, there is a fair share of comedy in the show as well. I think the writing sometimes tries to play the series as a romance, but for me the core was about family, both bio and chosen.

Love Next Door (Netflix)

K-Drama Friends to Lovers Romance Drama Family Comedy Cancer Mental Health

As of writing this, the last episode hasn't aired yet, but I've gotten my mom hooked onto the show. A cute story of childhood friends who fall in love. There is sadness, fighting, and a lot of crying I will admit. But there's also love, laughs, romance, food, and family. It does get a little steamy so I would recommend not watching the episodes with your parents.

Romance is a Bonus Book (Netflix)

K-Drama Age-Gap Romance Comedy Workplace Friends to Lovers Publisher Divorce

Something I love about workplace dramas is that they allow you insights to the journey of a diverse array of folks. And there are a lot of storylines running in parallel, two divorcees (one newly), one-sided romances, and an adorable protagonist you can't help but root for throughout the show.

Business Proposal (Netflix)

K-Drama Fake Relationship Romance Comedy Food

A blind date switch-up turned fake relationship turned into a spicy courtship. The protagonist's parents own a chicken shop and she's a food researcher, so each episode will leave you with a food craving.

My Secret Romance (Viki)

K-Drama One Night Stand Romance Comedy Food One-Sided Love

An out of character decision leads to an unforgettable night, two people who expect never to see each other again . . . but fate has other plans. I'd hate to ruin the plot, but this plot is also very food centric so block your food delivery apps while watching to avoid temptation.

Up Here (Hulu)

Romance Musical Small Town to Big City Drama Family

I loved this show! I watched it so quickly because every episode left me wanting to know the character's next step. The storyline was very personal to me as well. With Miguel's issues of racial trauma and struggles with romantic attachment as well as Lindsay's writing journey.

Also Carlos Valdes and Mae Whitman? You need don't need to tell me anything else. I'm here for it.

Here are my favorites, so far at least. What shows have gotten your attention? Send me your favorites.

High Fidelity (Hulu)

Romance Relationship Drama Music Experts LGBTQIA+ Breaking the Fourth Wall

It's hard to nail a re-make, especially of a John Cusack movie. That man is beloved. But this show does it. They were intentional about quality, Zoe Kravitz with a Questlove curated soundtrack. Could you do better?

Also featuring up and coming Da'Vine Joy Randolph! Look her up, I'm sure you've seen her in something recently.

The Equalizer (Spectrum)

Community Justice Family Drama Teen Issues LGBTQIA+ Investigation

Before you say it, I know this show is VERY cheesy. But honestly, I do like a procedural and it delivers. Also it has Queen Latifah, and that really just immediately sold me. She has a special place in my heart as one of the first brown female leads I truly felt I could relate too. I also have a strong feeling that Laya DeLeon Hayes career is one to watch.

From Liza Lapira to Adam Goldberg and Lorraine Toussaint it's a solid cast. The shows cast comes from classics like Dazed and Confused (is this just an older version of the character?), Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23, and so much more!

New Amsterdam (Netflix, Peacock, and Spectrum)

Social Welfare Hospital Romance Relationships LGBTQIA+ Medical Procedural

Okay the lead is white guy, I won't lie, but New Amsterdam has a strong POC cast. It has one of my favorite all-time actors in Indian Cinema, Anupam Kher. The cast also includes Jocko Sims and Freema Agyeman. These characters don't just stand on the sidelines, they have active and captivating stories.

As they add characters all the time, we also see Daniel Dae Kim, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Frances Turner, Shiva Kalaiselvan, and Christine Chang. Dr. Agnes Kao is a character that really resonated with me. I wish she had more scenes and episodes but I was happy with what I got. The episode where one Doctor doubts her age and experience made me feel redeemed as an Asian woman who has a similar struggle.

Shadow & Bone (Netflix)

Fantasy Powers Romance Heists Period 

I'm not going to spend to much time on this show because I think the fans have already secured it's safe passage for at least a few more seasons. Okay firstly, at least 3 of the main characters are South Asian. I'm trying to contain my excitement but it's difficult. I love that they added a racial and cultural element to the show. The show balances romance, fantasy, heists, and comedy all in one place.

****This show was not renewed and I struggle to make sense of why. But alas, I have to deal with it.

Heartstopper (Netflix)

Young Adult Romance Relationships LGBTQIA+

I don't know why but when I saw the promo for the show I didn't want to watch it. I made the wrong choice, because once I started it was amazing. I hope that we get more seasons of the show. It does again, start out with two main guys. But there are lovely POC recurring characters in the show who I'm hoping get more screen time soon.

Lockwood & Co. (Netflix)

Fantasy Ghosts Mystery Relationships Fight Scenes

I watched this show quickly, and I need another season. I really hope it gets one. I'm hoping the second seasons features more of Ali Hadji-Heshmati and Hayley Konadu. I'm honestly shipping George and Flo Bones. Anyone else boarding this ship?

****This show was also not renewed

The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)

Fantasy Powers Mystery Family LGBTQIA+

I didn't completely understand the hype of the show until I was a few episodes in. If I wasn't sure though Season 2 gripped me. The ship between Diego (David Castañeda) and Lila (Ritu Arya) is just beautiful, and scary, and emotional. There's a lot of layers.

Ritu Arya is another actress whose career I see expanding, especially with Polite Society entering theatres soon!

Reply 1988 (Netflix)

K-Drama Comedy Family High School Romance

80's themed TV has gained a great deal of popularity, probably due to the boomer nostalgia of their 20's. It reminds me of my parents' stories when they were young. This show feels like a cuddle. And the direction is smart, every pan to the little girl doing something absurd with no one's notice gets me. Some love triangles, silly parents, and remembering a time when we didn't have cell phones so we would have to find other ways to distract ourselves.

Transplant (Peacock)

Immigrants Medical Procedural Family Drama

I just started watching this show, it's definitely intense, and takes some unexpected turns. But much like New Amsterdam I think it broadens awareness of many serious issues. The show follows a Syrian immigrant doctor in Toronto, as he begins his residency (again, in the U.S.). He is navigating not only a new terrain but also caretaking for his younger sister and supporting his community in Toronto and abroad. You might be surprised why I put this in comfort. But although the show is intense it does follow a medical drama routine and often has happy endings. Watching a community in the hospital form and support each other is worth it. Also the scenes with the younger sister are so cute.

That's all I've got for now, stay tuned for more!